[meteorite-list] Mars Exploration Rovers Update: February 24 - March 3, 2010

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:26:18 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201003052226.o25MQIIU011621_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status.html

SPIRIT UPDATE: Winter Preparations Nearly Complete - sols 2185-2191,
February 24 - March 02, 2010:

Spirit is in her winter position, still embedded in the area called
"Troy" on the west side of Home Plate.

Efforts are nearing completion to prepare the rover for winter. Because
of the low power levels, multi-sol plans are being developed with
reduced communication activity to save energy. Only one or two planning
cycles occur each week. These plans have a single uplink to the rover
and few Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) downlinks to return the data. The new
long-range UHF communication table is onboard and various settings for
winter are being finalized.

As of Sol 2191 (March 2, 2010), the rover solar array energy production
was to 153 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.331 and a
dust factor of 0.510. Total odometry is unchanged at 7,730.50 meters
(4.80 miles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPPORTUNITY UPDATE: Driving Around Material Ejected From Young Crater -
sols 2166-2171, February 26 - March 03, 2010:

Opportunity is continuing the circumnavigation of "Concepci?n" crater.
During this period Opportunity traversed around a ray of ejecta that is
comprised of rock debris from the impact that formed the crater.

In Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter images these rocks and their shadows
appear as dark streaks extending to the south and southwest from
Concepci?n crater. Data collected on Sols 2165 (Feb. 25, 2010) and 2166
(Feb. 26, 2010), indicated potential targets for direct measurements
with the Instrument Deployment Device (IDD). A 22-meter (72-foot) drive
along the ejecta ray was performed on Sol 2167 (Feb. 27, 2010). However,
because of the assessed mobility risks associated with this part of the
jumbled rock field, no in-situ targets were approached. Instead the
rover continued the circumnavigation campaign with an 18-meter (59-foot)
drive around the ejecta ray on Sol 2171 (March 3, 2010).

As of Sol 2171 (March 3, 2010), the solar array energy production was
278 watt-hours with an atmospheric opacity (tau) of 0.396 and a dust
factor of 0.481. Total odometry is 19,399.57 meters (12 miles).
Received on Fri 05 Mar 2010 05:26:18 PM PST